What to plant in October in Zone 10

Start indoors this month

Seed trays indoors, under a light or in the brightest window you have. These are slow crops that need a head start on the season.

Nothing in our dataset needs an indoor start this month in this zone.

Set out into the final container

Transplants go into the pot they will finish in. Hardening them off for four to five days first prevents most transplant shock.

No transplanting window is open this month here.

Direct sow

Sow straight into the final pot. These crops resent root disturbance, and transplanting them usually costs more time than it saves.

No direct-sowing window this month in this zone.

Sow for autumn

A second sowing timed backwards from first frost. Fewer pests, less watering, and better flavour in most cool crops.

• Bush Bean — window Sep 22 – Oct 13 (3 gal, 9" deep)
• Loose-leaf Lettuce — window Oct 6 – Oct 27 (2 gal, 6" deep)
• Radish — window Oct 20 – Nov 10 (1 gal, 6" deep)
• Kale — window Oct 6 – Oct 27 (3 gal, 10" deep)
• Bush Cucumber — window Sep 22 – Oct 13 (5 gal, 12" deep)
• Zucchini — window Sep 22 – Oct 13 (7 gal, 14" deep)
• Spinach — window Oct 13 – Nov 3 (2 gal, 6" deep)
• Carrot — window Oct 6 – Oct 27 (3 gal, 12" deep)

Harvesting this month

Nothing from our dataset is in its harvest window this month here.

Not this month

• Hot Pepper — next window opens in December. Starting it now means 2 months of impatient waiting, or a plant that stalls.
• Cherry Tomato — next window opens in January. Starting it now means 3 months of impatient waiting, or a plant that stalls.
• Basil — next window opens in January. Starting it now means 3 months of impatient waiting, or a plant that stalls.